The significance of pre-emergence soil moisture to yield of potatoes on dry land in the western high plains area

Conclusions

In the high plains area in western Nebraska precipitation, occurring prior to planting time, or at least prior to emergence, of main season plantings of potatoes has been a more significant factor in the production of satisfactory yields than the rainfall during the crop season. Very satisfactory yields of potatoes have been produced with only the moisture stored in the soil prior to the emergence of the potato plants. In years of low rainfall the potato crops have practically been failures when planted after small grain, because of the serious depletion of soil moisture as deep as the fifth foot. Potato yields following corn have been fairly good since this crop removed very little mois ture below the third foot. The best potato yields have been obtained following summer fallow. During summers of little rainfall, the potatoes removed practically all available moisture from the upper five feet of soil.